New Delhi: Australia will be hosting England in their backyard in December 2021 for a five-match historic Ashes series. Fans and Cricket Legends from all over the world are eagerly waiting for the series to begin. Both Australia and England are strong contenders, which is making this series even more exciting.
The series between Australia and England is scheduled to begin on December 8. The first Test match will be played in Gabba, Brisbane.
England have failed to win the Ashes urn since the past two series and ex-England cricketer Kevin Pietersen believes it will take a ‘monumental effort’ for Joe Root-led side to cause a big upset and win back the urn from mighty Aussies.
"There are so many unknowns. The players don’t have the comfort of knowing what’s going to be allowed over the next few weeks or even where each Test match is going to be played...It will take a monumental effort to overcome those issues and concentrate on playing the cricket required to beat Australia in Australia," the Betway ambassador Kevin Pietersen explained.
Pietersen was a member of England's 2010/11 Ashes-winning side. Having won the prestigious Urn at home and away, the cricketer-turned-commentator talked about how crucial it is for England to avoid defeat, if not win, in the series opener at Brisbane.
"If you can keep things steady in Brisbane, even by just avoiding defeat, then the Aussie media will start questioning their own team. That’s where you want to get them – in a position where they are being shot at by their own media and being made to feel uncomfortable," the veteran said.
Just two weeks ahead of the high-profile Ashes, star speedster Pat Cummins was appointed as Australian cricket team's Test captain as Tim Paine stepped down from captaincy over 'sexting scandal'.
Cummins has been made the 47th Test captain of Australia. It is for the first time after 65 years, a fast-bowler has been made captain of Australia's Test squad.
Kevin Pietersen believes that there's no doubt that the speedster will face many challenges as a skipper but there’s every chance that he’ll be lifting the urn as an Ashes-winning captain.
"It’s difficult to know how [Pat Cummins] will go as captain because bowlers so rarely take charge in Test cricket. Will he overbowl or underbowl himself? How much will he lean on other senior players? I think there’s every chance that he’ll be lifting the urn as an Ashes-winning captain in a few weeks’ time," explained Pietersen.